12 Final Step

Three weeks have passed since the attack on the village by Aika. Most of the villagers weren't inflicted with major injuries after awakening from the unconscious spell casted upon them by the 'Song'. The young boy, Faolan was finally able to use 'Breath Of Thunder', which stunned Aika for a brief period of time for the Demon Slayer to strike it down. With Aika defeated, Faolan faints from his injuries.

Faolan had been put into bed rest, slipping in and out of consciousness,the entire village provided care until his health improved and his wounds had fully healed as a thanks to his bravery.

Inside a familiar room, , light beamed through the glass of a window into the eyes of the resting boy, waking him and his eyes squinted , shuttling themselves because of the brightness. Soon enough though, his eyes slowly revealed themselves to the light, his eyes felt heavy and weak, with the want to continue to rest.

Suddenly a loud thump came from the outside of a shut door, he could hear children, one hurt from the thump, "Shhhhh! You're gonna wake him!", one of the Children's voices alerted. " Don't you need to check on him, to make sure he's okay?" one replied innocently, " I'll do it quickly and maybe if he's finally awake we could play with him!", their voices rises in excitement. The door slowly creaked open, the appearance of four children's faces stacked on top of each other peeked into the room. The boy's nightly eyes widened,

'The Yano children!' his realization had completely awoken him.

"He's awake!" Tomoko's eyes brightened at the rested boy, but she then instantly cross her arms to the embarrassment of her excitement.

"H-e's a-w-a-k-e?" Eishi followed behind Shina who headed in for a closer look on the rested boy.

"Imma go get mom!" Kenichi the eldest, sprinted out the door to retrieve his mother after getting a good look at the rested boy.

"Wooooooa you're so coool!" Shina, who is closest to the bed of the rested boy, complimented him with a warm giggle.

Outside the room, the boy heard the clatter of dishes dropped and the thumping of someone excitedly running. The door opened, to the tearing eyes of Miss Yano-san,

"Faolan!" Miss Yano-san appeared at the entrance of the room, slowly kneeling down while Kenichi supported her, he tried to hide his squinting face with a smile. Tears of relief streamed from Miss Yano-san's eyes when Faolan kindly smiled.

Faolan sat up, removing his previous position of lying down and noticing flowers of health surrounding the entire bed.

"The village respects what you've done for them, you and your mother," Yano-san states.

"Come let's tell everyone!"

Faolan willingly exits the house guided by Miss Yano-san, while the Yano children followed behind holding onto Faolan's palms and clothing, especially shy Tomoko.

The village people soon noticed that Faolan had awakened from his rest, one by one they all had begun to gather around Faolan with thanks.

"Young Okami-kun, you are a hero!"

"Thank you very much for what you did for us. Same for your mother!" an elderly woman exclaims.

"Many of us appreciate what you've done for us." A man shouts.

Faolan received thankful bows from nearly everyone in the village and he returned also with a bow.

"They would be proud," the familiar voice of a friend.

"Juichi," Faolan extended his arm in greeting his fellow friend.

Juichi accepted his greeting, "I knew you could do it Faolan, you saved the village!"

Faolan nodded honorably, "If it weren't for you all, I don't think I could've. Your lives mattered to me."

"Look at you, you look so different when you got that scar on your jaw," Juichi pointed to the jaw on Faolan's right side.

Faolan raised his index finger to feel the scar, he felt that it was different from the rest of the skin on his jaw. More of the village elders continued to gather around Faolan, giving him thanks for his heroics in defense of the village. Juichi was actually the one who told the village of Faolan's heroism and of the Demon Slayer.

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After most of the villagers had thanked Faolan and returned to their respected duties, Faolan returned to Miss Yano-san's home with her family along with Juichi. The kids continued to play around Faolan bumping into him and Juichi, the eldest son Kenichi decided to help Yano-san with cleaning in the kitchen.

"Do you know where the Demon Slayer left to?" Faolan asked.

"So they're really called Demon Slayers," Juichi can now confirm that the name was true, Shina drives past Juichi.

"He told you what he was?" Faolan added, as Tomoko crashes onto his leg, in realization to what she's done, she embarrassingly ran away before Faolan could look what bumped him.

"Yes," Juichi dodges Tomoko's no-look run, he decides to move away from the crash zone. "He said that he went to get some protection for our village," added Juichi.

"I see…. The village isn't safe anymore now that the Demons know about it, " Faolan followed Juichi from the crash zone.

"I don't wanna play anymore!" cries out Tomoko

"What happened?" asked Shina.

"Awwww," Eishi is disappointed on how quickly she quit playing.

Tomoko's head peeked up noticing that Faolan and Juichi were approaching to a less crowded area, which where she was, caused her embarrassment to glow while Eishi and Shina also approached her to plead her to play with them.

"Faolan! You come over here!" Miss Yano-san shouts from the kitchen.

Faolan and Juichi looked at each other, Eishi, Shina and Tomoko looked up from the shout from Yano-san, they all advanced to the kitchen. Once they reach the kitchen, to where Miss Yano-san was, she stood by the second exit of the home holding a small box, similar to the one Mr. Nakama gave to Faolan's mother.

"This is from the village to you Faolan," Miss Yano-san with all the children surrounding the box had peak curiosity for what was inside.

Faolan retrieves the box, "A gift." There was a white label on the side. He held it close to his heart closing his eyes, being reminded of his mother, everyone in the room gazed upon Faolan.

"Miss Yano-san, I can't accept this yet," Faolan extended the box back to Yano-san. "There's something I still need to do," Faolan pondered Mr. Nakama's last words to him.

Miss Yano-san pauses and smiles, "I understand…. but you will have my meal for tonight!" Miss Yano-san can feel the kind eyes of Faolan, a spark of hope constantly flickered its nightly warmth, to not only her but to everyone in the room.

"I'll call you when it's ready," Miss Yano-san dashes speedily to the kitchen placing the box in an open location for Faolan to retrieve later.

In the same room where Miss Yano-san left, all the children except Tomoko were now together playing around Faolan and Juichi.

"You're going back to training?" Juichi assumed.

"Yes," answered Faolan.

"Good luck with that! We will all be here of course," Juichi smiled showing his teeth and leaving a thumbs up for Faolan, "I'm glad that I was able to return the favor," Juichi then joined in with the children, satisfied.

Faolan watched as the children played with Juichi, taking him down like a wild beast.

"Faolan-kun—," Tomoko pulled on Faolan's sleeve.

Surprised, Faolan turns to her, "Hm, what's wrong Tomoko?"

"You won't be leaving forever right?" Tomoko quietly asked.

Faolan smiles, "No, this village is my home and I'll always come back," Faolan gently replies and placed his rough right palm on top of her head in reinforcement of his promise.

Tomoko smiles and nods 'Hmphh'!

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"Okay everyone!" Miss Yano-san calls everyone for supper.

They all arrive to dine in the rich food that she had prepared for everyone in a bowl. Miss Yano-san had prepared rich Miso soup for everyone in the home, the children's eyes sparkled within the beauty of the meal.

"Thank you very much for the food," Faolan gave thanks to Miss Yano-san, and quickly gave another thanks in silence for his food, everyone noticed his whisper.

"Thank you very much Miss Yano-san," Juichi added, smiling.

"THANK YOUUUU, MOM," Shina's face beheld the sight of her soup.

"Thank you Mother," Kenichi bowed in respect.

"Thank you very much, Mother," Tomoko inputted with a bow.

"Th-ank y-ou, Mo-ther" Eishi smiled and bowed.

They all enjoy the soup that Miss Yano-san prepared, the children are left feeling full and exhausted from food consumption. Faolan and Juichi witnessed the children appearing to fall to the ground at any moment as if they were too tired to stand, while Miss Yano-san giggles.

"Faolan, I have your things," Miss Yano-san stands to guide Faolan to his belongings. Faolan quietly nods to follow her.

"I'll watch the kids," volunteered Juichi.

"Thank you, Juichi," bows Miss Yano-san.

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Miss Yano-san guides Faolan to one of the children's rooms. In there, she had kept his mother's katana underneath a floorboard. She grabbed the katana with care and handed Faolan the katana. The sheath was battered and torn but kept clean even with its battered state. Faolan was already tearing up at the sight of it.

"Thank you Miss Yano-san," Faolan clutched the katana from her.

"Faolan, Mr. Nakama and your Mother would be proud," Miss Yano-san's voice cracked.

Faolan paused, his eyes frowned for her emotions, he hugged Miss Yano-san.

"For a long time, I felt a rage and hatred within me, but if it weren't for you guys, I wouldn't know what I've become in the end, but I feel… I kinda feel I can go back to that feeling if I lose you guys too," Faolan's heart was fearful.

Miss Yano-san, felt the worry in his voice, she needed to let him know, "Well Faolan I want you to know," she points to his chest, "This fear is what your feeling right now, but it is truly bravery what you're doing, it's completely normal to worry, it just means that you care, you are not alone, always remember that, we are all together," Miss Yano-san presents a bright gift for Faolan, his eyes widened and that feeling of fear disappears, she reminded him of his Mother.

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Dusk arrives and the air is free.

"Bybyee!" The family wave their goodbyes to Faolan who also waves back.

"Come back, and show us what you can do!" Juichi exclaimed joyfully,

The villagers still wanted to give their thanks again to the young Okami as he passed by them to the exit, other children were also wowed at the sight of Faolan as he continued out.

The forest was all that laid ahead, the goal of deflecting lightning was the final step.

On his travel back to the forgery Faolan did not know where he last trained, but continuing deeper in the forest, he noticed the pieces of mannequins he had destroyed during his training from the past months, those months of frustration over the failure of his training and growing anger bottling within him, caused him to frown.

Yet he kept striding forward from that past with a new heart, and mind. The path forward will be long and heart wrenching. Faolan focusing his eyes taking in a deep breath, clearing his thoughts.

He found himself back at the forgery, his eyes had guided him, everything was as it was when he last saw it, with mannequin pieces scattered throughout.

"The sight of these mannequins is bothering me, I'm going to clean it up, " Faolan decides to clean up the entire forgery before restarting his training. He picked up mannequins cut in half, chopped up mannequins and sliced bits of mannequins all throughout the forgery.

"There's some mannequin debris over here,"

Before Faolan left to pick up the mannequin pieces drew him closer to the forest he decided to roll up a bag from the forgery to pick up more pieces. Once he finished, he set out to pick up the fallen mannequin pieces one by one in the forest, the path seemed to be very hilly and downwards, it was very nostalgic for Faolan.

"The bag is getting full, " Faolan thought that one bag would be enough.

Down the path, there was a cross section of trees holding a mannequin leg in between, Faolan approached the leg, and pulled the leg over his shoulder. Then he noticed the position of the trees, the odd feeling of the elevation, and the brightness of the Moon's light through the branches and leaves.

"Is this?" Faolan pushes through the cross section.

A spectacle was beyond, the Moon was so bright Faolan could see the entirety of the forest, the glimmering rivers, and the mountains beyond.

"The Marvelous View," only this time the Marvelous View was more beautiful than it was before, living in the dark. "Is it really really dark?"

Faolan had found his way back to the Marvelous View.

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Now that Faolan had found himself to the Marvelous View he returned to train his breathing styles, he imagined his fight with the demons, training for the advantage, waiting... to deflect the perfect strike.

Faolan patiently waited, for six months he waited for the perfect strike to come. Snow sprinkled the entire forest and the river was frozen solid, the clouds were dark as was the sky.

'RumbleRumble'

A thunderous rumble within the clouds, however it wouldn't be the first time Faolan would hear a similar rumble, previous months of storms gave no opportunity to Faolan, only an illusion, and in those times Faolan returned to basic training executing breathing forms, the attacks were not as powerful as they were against Aika. The illusion gave him drive instead of frustration.

The Moon's warm light shines over Faolan,

" This moment….," Faolan grips his hilt, preparing himself in similar lunging position of the First Style: Thunderclap and Flash

There is total silence...

A flash of light darts through the sky, electrifying the snowflakes within the clouds, approaching the boy who waited for the perfect strike, the lightning curves to Faolan's right side, where his grip held his hilt within his sheathe, the electrical power strikes the ground, pounding the Earth with a fiery sting.

"A feint," Faolan's eyes were glowing, he took deep breath, then turned his eyes to the left,

another bolt of light had been traveling through the sky already, ready to strike him, Faolan watches the curve of the lightning, waiting, as it quickly approaches enlightening the entire Marvelous View with a spark.

"AAAAAAAAAAA!" Faolan rapidly unsheathes his katana as the bolt of lightning strikes his blade, bouncing back into the sky, exploding with sound. Faolan's blade is split with the amount of pressure caused by the bolt of the lightning, the amount of force pushes Faolan lunge into a kneeling position, he looked up into the warm moon.

"I did it, Mr.Nakama," Faolan broke into tears quietly.

The fair headed man watches, astonished by what he had just witnessed, he departs for the young man to have his own time of self-victory.

"He's incredible."

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The following morning, Faolan returned to the village.

"That is the look of a man," One of the village elders whispered smiling to the young boy.

The villagers were happy to see Faolan return from the forest, any villager who was outside greeted Faolan, for they know the courage he did for them. Faolan headed to Miss Yano-san's home,

" I wonder how Kenichi,Shina,Eishi, Tomoko have been, and Juichi." Faolan quietly wondered.

Miss Yano-san opens the door to head outside, seeing an accomplished young man. She greeted Faolan with a motherly hug. "You've finished?" Miss Yano-san was filled with joy.

"Yes," Faolan replied.

She lets go of Faolan, and frowns, "Faolan, for your completion, go to Mr. Nakama's home with this key and return to me when you've finished."

Faolan gave a worried look for Mr. Nakama, "Is he okay?"

She reveals a key that she had hidden beneath her kimono as a necklace.

"Go to his home, Faolan and you'll learn," Miss Yano-san ordered, Faolan nodded and took the key.

"Thank you," Faolan jogged off to Mr. Nakama's home.

Reaching Mr. Nakama's home which is also a smithery, he unlocks the door and enters quietly.

"Mr. Nakama?" Faolan called out, but there was no reply.

Faolan navigated through the dark halls, as he did could feel very nostalgic of his past with Mr. Nakama, "He's always been a teacher and a wise man," Faolan continued on to Mr. Nakama's bed chambers.

There was a vase with a flower, a long case, a square case, and a letter.

Faolan approached the letter, and picked it up.

"Dear Faolan,

If you are reading this, you've completed the final step of your training and I can't say how proud I am of your accomplishment, forgive me for the inconsistency in this writing, I'm very ill and I've been losing my way. I've always believed in you, and you have prevailed. Read now young man, as a warrior you act upon what you feel is right, you strike upon evil, you protect the innocent no matter the cost. That is what you've become, a protector, a Demon Slayer, you could say, but not of the Corps. themselves.

As a warrior you won't be bound by the Corps. You will act on what you can and not limited to. However you must be mindful of the Corps. The higher ranking members will not take you kindly, there is a long list of rankings but the one's I mainly speak of, are called the Hashira, the highest ranking members, within the Corps. , they speak to the head of the Corps. themselves, the one who is the leader in mystery. If they see as a invader to their operations, if your true nature is revealed to them, they will be hostile, they will believe that you are a poser, so make allies within the Corps. if they present themselves to you. And trust those with a similar heart like yours, find a teacher, anyone could be a teacher and be a teacher to them.

I didnt speak much of your Mother leaving the Corps. long ago when you were young. But she did desert them so you could have a better life, but I now presume that there may be other factors why she also had left. I don't know what those factors are but you must uncover, what you can of your past. You're mother had something special, and you have something special, you're blood Faolan, there's a reason why you were hidden from the real society, The Demon Slayer Corps. And Muzan himself. I do not know why but I know that your destiny is beyond the destruction of Muzan or something equal to Muzan. Muzan, the head of the demons could be after your blood, so make haste young man and change the world.

You have changed mine Faolan, with the little time I have left, I've always wanted to say how much I appreciated teaching you throughout our time together, you have given me the opportunity to do it again. I've made you clothing from my very own gear from my past while I was away, it will protect you from medium level demons, but I do not know of the higher ups, wear it proudly Faolan. And I've made you a Nichirin blade while I was away, the color will change depending on the owner, wield it to slay evil and protect the innocent.

Lastly I stored your mother's Nichirin blade underneath the bed, take it as a reminder of your mother.

She always described her God as someone merciful, and I pray that he finds mercy in me.

And Faolan, you are now a Demon Slayer, a Warrior.

Thank you for the opportunity,

Hito Nakama."

Faolan breaks into tears as he places the letter down,mourning the loss of his beloved teacher who had given Faolan his last moments of life..

After some time he wipes his eyes and retrieves the Nichirin blade from the long case, he held the hilt until it changed colors…..the blade turns black, however it did not look black as obsidian,

'A black color,' he wondered.

Faolan takes the case where the uniform is around his right arm, he then looks underneath the bed and spots another long case where his mother's blade would be. Nakama kept the blade in a sheath. Faolan unsheathed the blade.

"Mother," Faolan smiled with tears flowing once more, he could feel his mother's peace.

"Thank You, Mr. Nakama,"

Faolan's story has begun.